surpasses

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "surpasses" is correct and usable in written English.
Generally, it is used as a verb, meaning to exceed or go beyond something or someone in terms of quality or quantity. For example: "The new medical treatment surpasses all previous attempts at finding a cure for the disease."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This victory, secured in the sweltering Scottish heat, means Brownlee has titles at the Commonwealth Games, the Olympics, the Europeans and the world championships – a full house of successes that surpasses all expectations he ever had when starting out in the sport.

The Guardian - Sport

Membership of the party in England and Wales has almost tripled in 18 months to 54,500 and now surpasses that of the Liberal Democrats or Ukip.

The Guardian

Yet for Maria Jose, any education surpasses no education.

The Guardian

This surpasses the news organisation's previous record of 114 million unique browsers, reached in September last year.

The Guardian

He calls it frustrating that an "interesting debate" begun by the tea-party movement on the size of the state has now taken on a zeal that surpasses British understanding.

The Economist

The argument is a good recap of several points that have also turned up in speculation by others, including Paul Krugman and my colleague, on what happens once artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence and robots start replacing us not just in manual labour or repetitive processing tasks, but in, well, everything.

The Economist

That surpasses Hollywood, even if the Americans' profits are larger.

The Economist

The new rich have been splashing out on everything from fine art to fine apartments.London's supporters say that it surpasses New York in structured finance and new stock listings.

The Economist

Valentine's Day far surpasses China's own lovers' day (which this year falls on August 20th) as a generator of sales.

The Economist

A similar problem looms in the steel industry, where the country's excess capacity of some 200m tonnes surpasses the entire capacity of Japan's steelmakers.Could change be coming?

The Economist

No city, not even Los Angeles, surpasses Tokyo for seismic action.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "surpasses", ensure you clearly define what is being exceeded and in what aspect. This provides clarity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "surpasses" without specifying what benchmark or standard is being exceeded. Without context, the statement loses its meaning and impact.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "surpasses" is as a verb in the third-person singular present tense. It indicates that a subject exceeds or is superior to something else. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status, supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

21%

Science

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "surpasses" is a versatile verb used to express that something exceeds or excels beyond a certain standard. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and widely applicable, particularly in news, encyclopedic content, and scientific writing. It is crucial to provide clear context when using "surpasses" to maximize its impact. Alternatives such as "exceeds", "outstrips", and "transcends" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Remember, specifying what is being exceeded and in what aspect enhances clarity and effectiveness. Ludwig's examples showcase its frequent use across reputable sources like The Economist and The Guardian, solidifying its place as a reliable and informative term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceeds

Indicates going beyond a limit, often numerical or quantitative.

outstrips

Suggests surpassing in speed or progress.

outdoes

Implies exceeding in achievement or performance.

transcends

Suggests rising above or beyond the limits of something.

excels

Indicates surpassing in skill or quality.

overshadows

Suggests exceeding to the point of obscuring something else.

eclipses

Similar to overshadows, but often used in a more dramatic sense.

better than

A simpler, more direct way of indicating superiority.

is superior to

A more formal and direct way of indicating superiority.

leaves behind

Implies a considerable margin in surpassing something.

FAQs

How to use "surpasses" in a sentence?

The word "surpasses" is used to indicate that something exceeds or is greater than something else. For example, "The quality of this product "surpasses" that of its competitors."

What can I say instead of "surpasses"?

You can use alternatives like "exceeds", "outstrips", or "transcends" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "surpasses" or "surpassed"?

"Surpasses" is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb "surpass", used when the subject is singular. "Surpassed" is the past tense and past participle form. For example, "He "surpasses" all expectations" vs. "He "surpassed" all expectations."

What's the difference between "surpasses" and "exceeds"?

While both words indicate going beyond a limit, ""surpasses"" often implies a greater degree of excellence or achievement, while "exceeds" primarily refers to going beyond a specific quantity or boundary.